Selective index device

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is of a selective index device, characterised in that the index is constituted by a frame within which there are disposed pivoting flaps which comprise a device for fitting to the frame, an inscription zone and a slotting zone which relate to the clear and coded references and characteristics of each document, which flaps pivot under the action of a previously programmed location means in the case of non-conformity and remain in position in the case of conformity, or vice versa, in order to cause only the references of the documents contained in the scope of the said location to stand out visually.

tmited States Patent 1191 Schimmerling 1 1 Nov. 5, 1974 SELECTIVE INDEX DEVICE 2,336,572 12 1943 Schuessler 40/7s.13

[76] Inventor: Michel Schimmerling, 30 rue de La FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS i Lingolsheim, France 350,757 0/1937 Italy 40/10405 Primary ExaminerJ. H. Wolff Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Young & Thompson [5 7 ABSTRACT The disclosure is of a selective index device, characterised in that the index is constituted by a frame within which there are disposed pivoting flaps which comprise a device for fitting to the frame, an inscription zone and a slotting zone which relate to the clear and coded references and characteristics of each document, which flaps pivot under the action of a previously programmed location means in the case of nonconformity and remain in position in the case of conformity, or vice versa, in order to cause only the references of the documents contained in the scope of the said location to stand out visually.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SELECTIVE INDEX DEVICE INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present application concerns a selective index device constituted by flaps which pivot under the action of a selector device.

In practice the selection of documents is generally effected from the documents; these documents then receive an adequate arrangement permitting their utilisation by an appropriate selection device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention on the other hand selection is not effected upon the documents, butupon flaps combined in an index. Each flap comprises the title, reference and codification pertinent to one document. Thus whatever is the nature of this document (index card, file, book, etc. no working of the document will be necessary. Thus this systemoffers the advantage of permitting location'from the flaps, without the necessity of working of the documents which these flaps represent.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a selective index device, characterised in that the index is constituted by a frame within which there are disposed pivoting flaps which comprise a device for fitting to the frame, an inscription zone and a slotting zone which relate to the clear and coded references and characteristics of each document, which flaps pivot under the action of a previously programmed location means in the case of non-conformity and remain in position in the 1 case of conformity, or vice versa, in order to cause only the references of the documents contained in the scope of the said location to stand out visually.

The principle of location is as follows. Each flap can, by rotation upon itself, occupy two positions:- The first position of the flap at rest permits reading of its identification label, the second position of the flap when tilted no longer permits reading of the identification label. In order to effect a selection from an index including a large number of flaps in the rest position, a selector device causes tilting of all the flaps which do not correspond to the location, and which by this movement withdraw the references carried by these flaps from the field of view of the operator, so as to leave visible only the references of the flaps which, by their conformity with the selection, have remained in their original position. i

This definition of the basic principle of the present invention can also be applied differently. In the form of embodiment as envisaged above in fact the identification references were inscribed upon labels fast with the flaps. These references can also be formed indepen- A flap can be formed in different ways andcan be of plane or angular form or can be constituted by a drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS IN THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings the invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example, and

therein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment with parts broken away to reveal the interior,

FIG. 2 shows one of the pivotable elements,

FIG. 3 shows how the. pivotable elements are mounted in elongated members,

FIG. 3 bis shows details of the said members, from the left side of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows how a movable frame may be moved relative to an outer frame,

FIG. 5 shows a set of stops of various sizes for regulating the displacement of the movable frame,

FIG. 6 illustrates the selective pivoting of two out of three pivotable elements, and

FIG. 7 illustrates by comparison of two positions of the device the vertical movement of a range of pivotable elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment comprises a device which permits its fitting to, removal from and pivoting in the frame of the index as represented in FIG. 1, also a programming zone and an identificational indication zone. An example of embodiment according to the invention is described hereinafter. The flap 1 (FIG. 2) has ends which fit into lodgements of the uprights of the frame 6. The flap l pivots on itself and occupies one or the other position.

If appropriate, magnetic patchesor springs can be utilised to retain theflap if the latter should tend to return of its own accord into its original position.

The uprights of the frame are beams or sections 5 which impart rigidity to the frame. The flaps 1 can be directly placed between two of these beams 5 inside lodgements formed at regular intervals on the said beams and thus can form a vertical row of flaps. However the problem of detachability of the flaps arises. This is necessary every time the programme of a flap must be amended as a function of any factor, such as an amendment of term.

In order to permit lateral disengagement of the flaps, strips of a flexible material (plastics, steel foil, etc.) will be placed upon the beams 5 (FIG. 3), with lateral cutaway portions 8 (FIG. 3bis) dividing these strips into tongues 9 which will be equal in number to the flaps included in the corresponding row. Each tongue will have a perforation 10 intended to receive one of the chamfered ends 2 of the flap.

These tongues will be flexible by the inherent nature of the material and due to the lateral cutaway portions 8 which are formed on each side of each of them. Each of these tongues can thus be deformed independently of the others which remain stationary. By a simple lateral reciprocating movement thus it is possible to disengage each of the flaps and to replace it equally easily. Each flap pivots in the perforations 10 of the strips fixed on the beams 5 of the frame. These beams further comprise stops which limit the travel of each flap in the two directions. The form of the flap is determined inter alia by the material by which it is constituted. Requirements concerning cost price, appearance and bulk and also weight will affect the selection of the forms.

The programming zone 13 is constituted by vertical slits at regular intervals on the upper edges of the flaps. As these slits 14 are placed at regular intervals, each of the positions thus defined can be cut away to obtain a recess 15 of predetermined width. It is also possible to place detachable pre-slotted tabs (not shown) on an appropriate reception device.

The identification label or indication is placed upon the body of the flap.

As specified above, a flap can occupy two positions:- The first position which it occupies at rest permits reading of the label 20; the second position no longer permits reading of the label. In order to effect this tilting, a selector device will be necessary. This can be presented in various forms. Inside the frame 6 there laterally slides a second frame 22. This frame 22 moves within the fixed frame 6 on slideways 23 behind the plane constituted by the flaps l and the vertical beams 5. The regulable displacement of frame 22 can be effected by means of a set of packing pieces 24 of variable widths (FIG. 5). By interposing a packing piece 24 between an upright of the fixed frame 6 and an upright of the movable frame 22, the amplitude of the lateral movement of the latter is determined. This lateral displacement can likewise be obtained by a knob placed upon the frame 6 the rotation of which causes displacement of a rack fixed on the movable frame 22.

The movable frame 22 comprises uprights 25 in its internal surface. There will be as many uprights 25 as the frame 6 has vertical rows of flaps. In fact each of the uprights 25 fixed on the movable frame 22 moves behind the corresponding row of flaps. Each of these uprights 25 has a number of lugs 26 equal to the number of flaps of the corresponding row (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7.) The intervals between the lugs 26 are identical with the intervals between the flaps (FIG. 6). Each lug 26 travels laterally above the programming zone 13 of the flap placed opposite to it (FIG. 6). The assembly of the lugged uprights 25 of the movable frame 22 can be operated vertically as a unit (FIG. 7). To this end uprights 25 are connected by cross-members 27 (FIG. 1) the ends of which travel in a guide device such for example as ports formed on the lateral walls of the movable frame 22. A single control 28 (FIG. 7) permits the operator to actuate all the lugged uprights 25 vertically with one single action.

In order to effect a selection thus, two movements are thus necessary. The first movement is lateral and is illustrated by FIG. 4 which represents a cross-section of FIG. 1. The first part of FIG. 4 illustrates the position of the movable frame 22 at rest or at the end of its travel. within the fixed frame 6. The second part of FIG. 4 illustrates the movable frame 22 and the lugged uprights 25 fast with it in an intermediate lateral position, which bringsthe lugs 26 into position opposite to one of the locations of the slotted zone 13 of the flaps l. 1

When thus positioned the lugged uprights 25 must be actuated vertically. This vertical movement is the second phase of the selection which is complementary to the previous lateral movement.

Opposite to each lug there is a the location of the slotting zone 13 of each of the flaps. This location can be cut away or not. When through the intermediary of the control 28 the lugged uprights 25 are vertically operated, they will be displaced vertically. If as illustrated in FIG. 6 the flaps A and B comprise no slot at position number 7, the two lugs 26 placed opposite to the said flaps by movement will cause tilting of these flaps. However if as for the flap C the lug 26 is placed opposite to a slot, the lug will then travel freely through the latter along the axis of its vertical displacement and will leave the flap C in place. As this selection is thus realised by a lateral movement and a vertical movement movements, the operator will not be able to read the flaps A" and 8". On the other hand he will easily read the reference applied to the flap FIG. 7 illustrates the vertical movement effected on a row of flaps l by a lugged upright 25 which causes (second part of FIG. 7) the tilting of the nonconforming flaps and leaves the conforming flap C" in the reading position. It will be noted that the flaps are held at rest in the inclined position by stops; this is in order to facilitate their reading. The amplitude of the tilting (45 or places the flap in a position in which reading of the label 20 which it comprises is no longer practicable under normal working conditions.

When the control 28 is released, to return spring 29 returns the lugged uprights 25 to the initial position within the movable frame 22. The flaps however will remain tilted for a complementary selection or to permit the operator to note the references of the selected flaps. The return of the flaps to the original position is likewise effected by means of the control 28, to which a movement the reverse of to the previous movement is imparted, that is to say upward. At this moment each lug 26 situated beneath the tilted corresponding flap will push the latter back until it resumes its initial position.

What is claimed is:

l. A selective display device, comprising a first fixed rectangular frame disposed in a vertical plane, means whereby a plurality of equally spaced and substantially elongated rectangular flaps are pivotably, disposed in a vertically aligned series in said first frame in a common plane parallel to the plane of said first frame, said flaps having recesses therein at least some of which recesses occupy different positions among the various flaps, said recesses being disposed in the same side of each flap, a second rectangular frame smaller than said first frame and having means for sliding horizontally between the opposed edges of said first frame in a plane parallel to the plane of said first frame, and a third frame having means whereby it is carried by and slidable vertically between the opposite edges of said second frame in a plane parallel to the plane of said first frame and having a said plurality of equispaced projections thereon that are adapted to selectively contact a portion of at least one of said flaps along said side and adjacent said recesses while passing through a recess of at least another of said flaps so that upon vertical actuation of said third frame the projections contact and thereby pivot said at least one flap while leaving said at least another flap stationary thereby selectively pivoting said flaps according to the location of said recesses on said flaps.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, said means comprising an upright member and said projections comprising lugs thereon in registry with each of said flaps, one said lug contacting said at least one flap.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, said first frame having strips of flexible material fixed thereon, said flexible material having recesses therein in which the ends of said flaps are pivotally disposed.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, said flaps having tapered opposite ends that lit in said recesses.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, said flaps having visible indicia thereon. 

1. A selective display device, comprising a first fixed rectangular frame disposed in a vertical plane, means whereby a plurality of equally spaced and substantially elongated rectangular flaps are pivotably, disposed in a vertically aligned series in said first frame in a common plane parallel to the plane of said first frame, said flaps having recesses therein at least some of which recesses occupy different positions among the various flaps, said recesses being disposed in the same side of each flap, a second rectangular frame smaller than said first frame and having means for sliding horizontally between the opposed edges of said first frame in a plane parallel to the plane of said first frame, and a third frame having means whereby it is carried by and slidable vertically between the opposite edges of said second frame in a plane parallel to the plane of said first frame and having a said plurality of equispaced projections thereon that are adapted to selectively contact a portion of at least one of said flaps along said side and adjacent said recesses while passing through a recess of at least another of said flaps so that upon vertical actuation of said third frame the projections contact and thereby pivot said at least one flap while leaving said at least another flap stationary thereby selectively pivoting said flaps according to the location of said recesses on said flaps.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, said means comprising an upright member and said projections comprising lugs thereon in registry with each of said flaps, one said lug contacting said at least one flap.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, there being a plurality of said vertically aligned series of flaps disposed in side-by-side relation, said third frame comprising a plurality of uprights one individual to each said vertical series of flaps and all disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said first frame, said projections comprising a plurality of lugs on each said upright having the spacing of and coacting with said flaps to pivot said flaps of an associated said vertical series.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, said first frame having strips of flexible material fixed thereon, said flexible material having recesses therein in which the ends of said flaps are pivotally disposed.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 4, said flaps having tapered opposite ends that fit in said recesses.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1, said flaps having visible indicia thereon. 